Oregon Football: Keys to a Win over Tennessee Tech

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Over the last two weeks, the nation got to see not only the new Oregon Ducks uniforms but also the new Oregon attack with Marcus Mariota and Kenjon Barner in the backfield. 

Against Arkansas State, the Ducks put up 50 points in the first half and then hit the snooze button for the second half. This past week, the Ducks jumped on Fresno State and again cruised in for a win.

Before the fans at Autzen Stadium get treated to the third game of the year, here is a look at the keys to another Ducks victory.

Cool and Calm Marcus Mariota

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Marcus Mariota showed the nation that despite being a freshman, the young quarterback has the poise and leadership the Ducks need. 

Despite his success against Arkansas State, Mariota proved he is human by having some struggles against Fresno State.

A game against Tennessee Tech should allow him to settle back in and continue to grow in this offense. 

Fast Start

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One of the biggest factors to the Ducks win over Arkansas State and Fresno State was the Ducks' ability to jump out to a big lead and cruise through the end of the fourth quarter.

In a game like this, the Ducks need to get off to a quick start and put this game away early so that the starters can take a seat and rest up for their conference opener against Arizona. 

Opening Up Big Holes

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The Ducks offensive line has done a good job early on this year. The line has been able to open up some huge holes for both De'Anthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner to run through.

With Tennessee Tech in town, the key to controlling the game will start along the line for the Ducks. After losing Carson York for the year, the Ducks need a game like this to gel as a unit and get comfortable with moving on without him.

Defensive Speed

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While Oregon is making sure it is up to speed and ready for conference play, what has become evident is the speed that the Ducks have on defense. 

The Ducks' defensive speed has been on full display early this year, but they will be missing John Boyett for the rest of the season. 

If the Ducks continue to swarm to the ball, Tennessee Tech will be in for a long afternoon at Autzen.

Stay Healthy

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After two games, the Ducks have already lost a key player on each side of the ball.

For the defense, the Ducks must move on without starting safety John Boyett. Boyett has been a great leader and losing him for the year will be a huge test for this defense.

On the other side of the ball, Carson York is done for the year as well. York was a big part of the offensive line, but the good news is that the Ducks are fairly deep and can overcome this loss.

When playing Tennessee Tech, the Ducks need to put this game out of reach early and ensure that the starters get to the bench healthy and are able to rest for the Arizona game. 

 

Joe Penkala is a B/R National Featured Columnist who covers college football. You can contact him on Twitter.